Building Hope

Three years ago, a client we worked with attempted suicide for the third time in this building. A daughter of a single mom and child of poverty and abuse, her grandparents had taken her in and had tried for years to get her help. They had never been successful. This time, she was declared dead, and yet was revived on the way to the hospital.
Rachel, one of our founders, sat with her grandmother in this building and tried to find somewhere to help her. No one was able to, due to her history and the cost. Rachel felt convicted that this was on her and God, despite no training, experience or education in the mental health field.
The client came home and started going everywhere with Rachel. For one of the first times in her life, someone cared if she lived or died. She started opening up, sharing the extreme hardships of her life and how she wanted hope and a future. We shared that there was one answer to that longing and His name is Jesus Christ. After a few months of this care, she gave in to the soul questions and accepted Jesus as her true Kinsman Redeemer. The change was immediate and miraculous. Everyone who knew her knew there was a living change in her life and wanted answers. She was baptized and led two other ladies to our door and ultimately to Christ.
The grandfather was astounded at the difference in her life and asked Justin and Rachel if they would consider doing it again, because he was willing to sell his property for what he had originally purchased it for in 1999. This was a 5000 square foot building split into two portions with so much potential.
431 Ministries immediately started fundraising, but the timing was not yet ready. We had to learn, grow and lean more into Him before we would be ready to take on a massive project. And yet, the vision stayed the same. In 2020, the Lord provided the final amount in an amazing way, through a local church and a local business. And as of June 23, 2021, it is now ours.
Today, we’re watching dreams become reality, knowing it will take time, talent and treasure. But the Lord is faithful and He who begins a good work will finish it! As we make plans for the future, we see a cafe there, ready to employ ladies coming out of crisis. We see a counseling center, ready and available for immediate crisis needs. We see a childcare center, available for one-off situations or ongoing as the mamas get back on their feet.
Overall, we see community. We see a place to do Bible studies, offer healthy food options in a food desert and build hope and a future for more than just the ladies we serve.